I am in the midst of reading your exposition of this parable, andthere is something I want to ask you about Abraham being dead (jn8:52) that is puzzling to me.

Jesus, in vs.56 (KJV) said "your father Abraham rejoiced to see myday: and he saw it, and was glad".

My question is, what 'my day' of Jesus is this referring to, and thatAbraham is rejoicing over if he is dead? Was this 'day of Jesus'experienced by Abraham before he died? I always thought, dueto "traditional Christian teaching", that Abraham's rejoicing was dueto the incarnation of Jesus's first coming. If you can give anyinsight at all into this, I would appreciate it.

blessings in Jesus Christ,

Mitch

Dear Mitch:

Thank you for your email and interest.

Abraham "saw" Jesus' day in that Abraham had faith and believed Godwhen God made huge promises to him regarding all the future familiesof the entire earth. God told Abraham that through HIS SEED, ALL thefamiles of the earth would be blessed. Paul informs us thatthis "seed" was in the singular--JESUS CHRIST the One and onlySaviour of the world. Abraham saw it and rejoiced when God performeda great miralce in his life.

When Abraham and Sarah were well beyond the years of child-bearing,God gave them the SON through whom the Saviour would come, and whenthat impossible birth occurred, Abraham KNEW AND REJOICED that Godwas true to His word and that there would come THE SAVIOUR OF THEWORLD from his seed.